Responding to a question about the offensive line’s performance during Monday’s Big East coaches conference call, Marrone said the junior center and grandson of former Orange coach Dick MacPherson played one of his best games in Saturday’s 28-17 victory over Stony Brook.

The coach praised the left side of the offensive line, which helped a trio of running backs – Jerome Smith, Prince-Tyson Gulley and Ashton Broyld, along with quarterback Ryan Nassib – rush for 214 yards against the Seawolves.

Marrone had kind words for left guard Zack Chibane and left tackle Sean Hickey, who is filling in for All-Big East performer Justin Pugh.

The coach was less effusive when talking about the right side, where Ivan Foy and Rob Trudo are sharing time at guard and Lou Alexander is getting most of the snaps at tackle.

“The experience that the right side is getting is helping them,” he said.

Of the right guard position, he said, each player has different strengths and weaknesses.

“You wish you could combine both of them,” he said. “Right now we’re just trying to get them both better.”